Friday, September 26, 2014

One of the problems of living in paradise is that one must occasionally travel to see a rare bird.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The good fortune of this within Florida is that you never leave paradise. Such was the case for this series that continues with an emphasis on Red-necked Phalarope that made an appearance in a tidal pool at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The phalarope's current whereabouts are unknown with no recent discussion at the University of South Florida message board as of this writing. I was surprised to read that the Red-necked Phalarope winters at sea on tropical oceans.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope with Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope with Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

It was difficult to give the phalarope my complete attention with all of the bird activity at the time of my visit to Siesta Key. An immediate observation made was that the phalarope appeared to favor its left leg. An injury to the right leg might explain why the bird was not observed to spin.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

Reinhard Geisler above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope was a delightful specimen to observe yet a challenging bird to photograph in flight. I was pleased that the bird gave me numerous opportunities to practice. The phalarope would take flight inexplicably so it had to be watched incessantly.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Fish Crow above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

At a certain point I had to turn my attention elsewhere. There were a lot of birds present in and around the tidal pool. While most of the birds had transitioned to their relatively drab winter plumage I nonetheless was enthralled with them.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The time was passing much too quickly as it always does while relishing Florida's wildlife.

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.